Yuugao

Moonflower

Noto Mamiko


Niwa ni saki hajimeta yuugao ni
Mizu wo utte agetara
Asobi ni dekaketeita neko ga
Kaettekita wa "okaeri"

Hora mitegoran kumo no sazanami
Anzu iro ya murasaki
Shizumu yuuhi ni somatte kirei
Marude yume ga maboroshi

Kaze wa doko kara
Fuitekuru no deshou
Tooi umi wo watari
Nagai tabi wo suru no

Futo kigatsukeba tokei no hari wa
Ano hito ga modoru jikan
Onaka no mushi mo naiteru hazu yo
Kyou wa nani wo tsukurou

Soramimi kashira dareka no koe ga
Rusuroku ni messeeji
Ima ni ano hito awatete iu wa
Yuuhan wa iranai to

Kaze wa doko made
Fuiteyuku no deshou
Itsuka konna hibi mo
Natsukashiku naru no

Pokkari aita jikan wo hitori
Moteamasu buranda ni
Ichiban boshi ga matataki dashita
Kitto hareru ashita mo

Kaze wa yuku doko e
Daremo shiranai

As I watered the moonflower
That had just begun to bloom in the garden
The cat that went out to play
Came home, "Welcome home"

Hey, look at the ripples in the clouds
Apricot-colored and violet
The sinking sunset dyes them so prettily
It's as if it were a dream

Oh, wind, from where
Do you blow, I wonder?
It must be far away, across the sea
Continuing on your long journey

Suddenly I realize the clock hand points
To the time of that person's return
With the sound of stomachs growling*
What shall I make today?

I wonder if I've misheard? Someone's voice
Leaves a message
Now that person says in haste
"I don't need dinner"

Oh, wind, how far
Do you blow, I wonder?
Someday, this day too
Will become special to me

I don't know what to do with all this free time
In the veranda too big for me alone
The first star of the evening begins to flicker
I'm sure the weather will be clear tomorrow

Wind, where do you go?
No one knows

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translation notes:
* The literal translation here is "The insect of the stomach chirps", but I thought that sounded a bit too awkward in English.